Chinese Astronauts Stranded in Orbit After Debris Hits Return Capsule
A crew aboard the Tiangong space station is currently stranded after their return capsule was reportedly struck by small pieces of space debris, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
The three astronauts of the Shenzhou-20 mission were planned to return to Earth on Wednesday. However, their mission has been extended as engineers analyze the impact and assess risks related to the spacecraft’s damage, CMSA reported.
State broadcaster CCTV confirmed that the return date has been postponed indefinitely, without providing further information.
Details on the Incident
The capsule is believed to have been hit by fragments of space junk, an increasing threat in low Earth orbit. CMSA has not revealed the severity of the damage or the necessary repairs.
If repairs are not possible, the Shenzhou-20 team will use the return capsule of the Shenzhou-21 crew to come back to Earth.
Crew Rotation at Tiangong Station
- Shenzhou-20 astronauts arrived in April for a six-month mission:
- Commander Chen Dong
- Fighter pilot Chen Zhongrui
- Engineer Wang Jie
- Their replacements, Shenzhou-21 crew, docked successfully on Saturday:
- Astronauts Zhang Hongzhang
- Wu Fei
- Zhang Lu
"Their return date has been postponed indefinitely," said CCTV, with no additional details.
Space debris continues to pose a growing hazard for missions operating in low Earth orbit, complicating safe returns.
Author's Summary
The Shenzhou-20 mission's return is delayed due to debris damage, highlighting the increasing risks that orbiting space junk poses to crew safety and spacecraft integrity.